Jordan Dargue and Helen Oldham are on a mission to tackle the age-old problem of the lack of investment into female-founded businesses.
The statistics are depressingly familiar. Only two per cent of all venture capital (VC) funding goes to companies founded solely by women.
Unsurprisingly, only 18 per cent of decision-makers in venture capital are women.
However, a report in 2024 by EY showcased 45 ‘SuperScalers’ – defined as UK-based companies that have been scaled to £50m+ by women leaders and founders – concluded they’d contributed £7bn to the national economy.
Dargue and Oldham, who were included in BusinessCloud’s inaugural Northern Leaders list, say the benefits of fixing the problem speak for themselves.
“We know that if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it could add £250bn to the UK economy,” said Dargue
“Female-led businesses achieve twice as much revenue despite receiving half the capital, according to research by Mass Challenge.
“Lifted is an organisation that empowers more women to access early-stage capital.”
Dargue and Oldham launched Lifted Ventures in 2023 and have already built a network of around 50 angel investors, of which 96 per cent are female.
“We’ve helped catalyze £5.5m investment,” said Oldham, who is the former chief publishing director at Johnston Press and the co-founder of Fund Her North.
“Our goal is to celebrate and elevate women in VC and angel investment, build a community of change-makers, showcase success stories and opportunities, and drive inward investment to the North and beyond. Together, we can reshape the landscape for the better.”
Dargue an angel investor and NED hails from North East and previously worked with Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies through her growth consultancy Dargue Associates.
Dargue joined forces with Oldham, co-leading award-winning North Invest and later co-founding Fund Her North. Together the duo have created Lifted Ventures, a Northern-based ecosystem that operates across the UK outside of London the South East.
“We’re a collaborator,” explained Oldham. “We want to work with public and private sector partners to help move the dial.”
Away from work, Dargue’s claim to fame is having a winner – a whippet called Miguel – at the world’s biggest dog show Crufts in 2024.
As for Oldham, her secret passion is being a devotee of whisky and open water swimming.
The duo, who were speaking at Thursday’s Sheffield Investor Tour, were included in BusinessCloud’s inaugural Northern Leaders list for increasing the flow of capital to early-stage female founders.
“I think Northern Leaders is really important,” said Oldham. “You’re picking the people who are making a significant impact. It’s providing a really good platform for people who aren’t always seen.”
Dargue added: “When we found out we were on the list we felt really privileged to be sitting alongside some truly inspirational people. The Northern Leaders is a fantastic initiative celebrating Northern’s finest business people.”
In May 2025, Lifted Ventures is hosting a festival in Leeds promoting female VCs.
The Athena VC Festival unites women venture capitalists, aspiring investors and industry allies, and is designed to promote equity, innovation, and collaboration in venture capital.
The event will take place on May 13th at Nexus, University of Leeds.